August ~ September America and The Islands

The kids were very sad to leave. I was sad to see them go as well. We had a nice boat routine going and they were really adjusting to boat life nicely. At 5:30 am on August 27^th a cab picked Jeb and Wendy and myself up at the boat. We were in a port in Mallorca. The kids and I flew from Palma to Barcelona to Madrid to Boston. It was along day for us but the kids were great listeners and very helpful.

I was looking forward to being home and visiting with my family and friends. I also was looking forward to the simple things I miss very much. Like a flushing toilet, a real refrigerator and sitting and watching a T.V. show.  I started my trip back with a stay in Sudbury. Gigi and Poppy were happy to see all of us. Gigi made a delicious dinner and we had a nice nights sleep.  I spent the next couple of days getting the kids situated for school. On Friday we headed up to NH for the weekend at Happy Hampton. On the way we stopped at Joe and Samara’s house to visit with mom and Maggie and wish Joe and Samara luck at the hospital. They were heading in to have baby Louise who would come later on Saturday with Black hair, not red like Maggie and the Kranz nose! She is adorable and so sweet. Maggie loves her very much and always wants to be around her. Maggie and Lousie

Jeb and Wendy and I had a great weekend visiting with Emily and her mom Barbra who drove up from Long Island with Emily’s girls, Mia and Olivia. The kids had a blast at the beach and I was so happy to visit with Emily and catch up. My best friend Alison also made the trip to the beach!You don’t realize just how much you miss someone till you spend a length of time and remember all the ways you used to make each other laugh. I really miss college!

The weekend could not have been more perfect. We were lucky enough to have two amazing dinners at Sue and Lenny’s. Jeb and Wendy were so excited to see Sue and Lenny and the whole Bergin clan. Later when I put Wendy to bed she reminded me that she had not seen some of the cousins and aunts since Christmas.  Wendy has a memory like a steel trap!

Helen and butch were great! All in there glory at the arrival of another healthy grandchild. Louise Lursano Kranz was born!  I was also able to visit with Steve and Kate in Hamilton and see Finn and Conor. The boys are getting so big! Finn is playing hockey and soccer. Conor is starting preschool and seems to really like it.

 Hamilton Crew!

While I was in America for the week Joseph stayed behind in Mallorca to work on some small projects on Zimbabalooba. He made me a wonderful and very helpful fruit and veggie holder. Prior to my new hanging baskets I had to put the fruit and veggies on the counter and when we took a good sized wave I would go below to find everything on the floor. It was very frustrating.

 My new fruit and vegetable holder

 Joseph had a nice quite week with the exception of being hit by a boat. Yep that’s right, he swam out to our anchor that we mark with a giant orange buoy to check on the anchor. A 30ft black motorboat went between our anchor and the boat. Joseph said he checked for boats coming. The boat struck him on his right arm and dragged him for about 20 ft till he realized he could push off and swim away.  The boat had a square type of front to it. He was lucky not to have been killed.  Of course he did not tell me about it till I got back to Spain.  I was shocked because Joseph practices very strict safety rules on the boat.  He in the end was fine and has learned not to trust fellow boaters!

Joseph's Injury!!!

A Day Out

We were able to put the boat in port for the afternoon. Took a cab to fetch a part for our dingy. Enjoyed a late afternoon snack of tapas and now off to do some shopping! Everyone is in great spirits!
(Trying out the new blogger app).

Ibiza and beyond...

We made it to the islands! The last two weeks have been great. I have really enjoyed my time with Jeb and Wendy and did not realize just how much I miss them! (tears). Well the last few weeks have not been uneventful. In fact there had been lots going on.

Ibiza ... great anchoring

 

Wendy scubing with Joseph...

We traveled 80 miles from the Spanish mainland to reach the islands. I have always wanted to go to Ibiza I just never imaged it would be on a boat with two kids. The first night we anchored in a beautiful little cove. We went snorkeling  and watched the movie Croods on the computer. It was a very nice night. The following day we made our way down the coast towards Cala Blanco another anchorage. As we arrived to drop anchor our engine wires got hot and started a small smokey spark. Joseph was wonderful in reacting. He was able to cool down the wires and we spent the night in the cove. The following day a charter captain from Valencia gave us a tow out of the cove and we sailed all the way to Puerto De San Antonio. We spent two nights in port and regrouped. Joseph and the mechanic replaced all the wires and we were up and running again. I am so grateful that Joseph is an electrical engineer and able to fix so much. He truly has everyone's safety in mind when we are on the boat.

The kids were great and very patient as we waited in port. We went to the beach and checked out San Antonio. I could not get over the amount of young English people who were there. They were all drinking so much...and just party...it is Ibiza!

We have now reached Mallorca and it is beautiful here! We have been swimming and exploring the island. Wendy is a natural snorkeler and Jeb loves checking out all the fish. We feed them old bread and the fish swarm around the boat. It is really like being in heaven! I am feeling very blessed and looking forward to being home with my family for the week. 

Hope everyone at home is healthy, happy, and safe!

 

 

Santa Pola, Spain

The last couple of weeks have been busy! We have truly enjoyed our guest for the past few weeks. Gigi and Poppy spent a week with us on the boat and were very good sports about everything. It was hot at night but since the weather has cooled down. Gigi and Poppy went on there way to continue there adventure to Barcelona. We have talked to them everyday and they sound happy. The kids have adjusted well to the boat and really enjoy anchoring and swimming. We have been working on writing in there journals and Jeb has memorized the 8's times table. We have to keep up with the reading and writing!

 

Can you find Zimbabalooba?

 

  

 Some Climbing in the water at the beach!

 

The other morning we anchored in this adorable cove and we were able to to go for a hike in the morning. It felt great to get out and move first thing in the morning! The kids did great and the view was spectacular.

We were able to do some sailing this past week and the water is so warm. I have enjoyed snorkeling with the kids. We see fireworks almost every night.

 

Fish farms...there are tons of them!

 

I wish I could be more specific as to what towns we have been in but I honestly do not know. I quite often ask Joseph what day of the week is it? I am feeling very relaxed and truly blessed to be having this adventure.
We are heading to the Balearic Islands on Thursday. I am excited to see Formentera and Mallorca Spain. The swimming is suppose to be great!
 
A special shout out to CATE GAMMONS...HAPPY BIRTHDAY...LOVE YOU! XOXOXOX







Enjoy the pictures and thank you for all the support.
I am home the last week of August for a week then Joseph and I  are heading on to Corsica and Sardinia. Going to be a great year!

Jeb riding in the Dinghy

At Last!

 

So we find ourselves on the eve of leaving Benalmadena! The last week has been busy fixing engine pieces and organizing the boat. We have added two more wolves to our wolf pack and could not be more thrilled! Jeb and Wendy have been a great addition to the boat. Their little hands and bodies have been great to get into those tough to reach spots...hahaha just kidding!

On Sunday, We had a day of rest and headed to Rhonda by car to meet Gigi and Poppy for lunch. The drive was spectacular! I drove there so I could practice my manual driving. I have really mastered it! I even ran some errands alone the other day and only stalled once.

On our way to Rhonda we stopped in a small town tucked into the hill and went to mass. There was 12pm mass all in Spanish. The view from the church was gorgeous. The kids did great despite how hot it was. I truly enjoy attending mass in a new church every week. I love seeing all the different styles of altars and paintings there are. This past Sunday the church had a funeral procession casket. It was made out of wood and glass with a silk white bed and pillow inside of it. It really put a perspective on how beautiful a funeral procession in Spain is.  We went on to meet Gigi and Poppy for lunch. Rhonda was a gorgeous town also tucked high into the mountains. It had a very large cliff running through the center of it. The mountains here are breathtaking and driving through them was amazing!

church

They also had this painting that was 3D. It was a painting of Heaven and Hell, or at least that is what Wendy thought it was. I would have to agree with her. We went on to light a candle for our family and friends back home, especially my uncle Frank for whom I heard is now recovering at home!

We are heading out of town at last tomorrow afternoon and we are heading towards Malaga but will definitely pass it. I am really looking forward to getting out of this marina. Although Benalmadena is beautiful I miss the open seas!

I am feeling very blessed and so excited to be sharing this adventure with Gigi, Poppy, and the kids.

Hoping everyone at home is healthy, happy, and safe!
 

Benalmadena Spain

 


Today is Saturday July 27, 2013. We have been back in Spain now for 3 days. I love the town of Benalmadena.  It is just southwest of Malaga on the southern coast of Spain. We have met some really great Spainards that are very helpful. We currently have two very special boat guests. Jeb and Wendy the two children who I nanny for have come to stay with us on the boat for 5 weeks. Jeb is 10 and Wendy is 8. They have so far been great listeners and helpers when it come to living on the boat. We were hoping to leave port today but we are in the process of fixing a few things on board and it looks more realistic that we will leave on Tuesday instead.

We flew back to Spain on Tuesday the 23rd. Our luggage got lost along the way. When we arrived into Granada we did not have all our bags. Iberia airlines lost it in Madrid. We spent the day in Granada checking out this very old castle called the Alhambre. It was very hot out! The kids did great and really enjoyed exploring the site. We were able to pick our bags up later at the airport then we drove to Benalmadena. We have been here in the marina and there is lots to do and see. I have been taking the kids to the beach every morning. Wendy loves to boogie board and Jeb is all about building castles. In the afternoon we have been leaving the beach because it gets very very hot and crowded. I am really looking forward to getting out of the marina and anchoring for a few nights. I can't wait to find a cozy lagoon to explore!!!

Last night we took the kids over to boardwalk. They both decided they would try the bungee cord jumping on top of a trampoline. It was a riot. Jeb did a great job flipping forwards and backwards. He was in his element! Wendy was great too. She mastered the backwards flip right away! We walked back to the boat and the kids went right to sleep.

As of right now, 10am they are still sound asleep. I think boat life is agreeing with them!

Hope everyone at home is healthy happy and safe!
Prayers of healing for my uncle Frank.

US visit!

Joseph and I were home for 10 days. We managed to fit in a funeral, rest in peace Aunt Marie and  A lovely Wedding in Newport, Congratulations to my cousin Jackie and her new husband Nathan!  The venue was at Castle Hill and the two families, the Ryan's and the Konos could not have been nicer. We danced all night and enjoyed some delicious food. I was so wiped I did not even make it to the after party. (not like me)!

We were only home for a short visit and had lots of jobs to complete. My parents were extremely helpful and supportive in our ability to accomplish our jobs.
 We had a great visit with lots of close friends and really enjoyed our time at home!

Thanks Mom and Dad!
Love, Anne